While many people don't even realize it, Saturday is election day with sparks already flying over three hotly contested tax renewal elections.

While many people don't even realize it, Saturday is election day with sparks already flying over three hotly contested tax renewal elections.

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Updated: 6:36 PM CDT Apr 6, 2016

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WEBVTT ADRIANNA: THREE TAX RENEWALS ONTHE NORTH SHORE BALLOT STIRRINGQUITE THE DEBATE, ESPECIALLYACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA.SOME SAY NOT ALL OF THOSE TAXDOLLARS ARE EVEN NEEDED ANYMORE.SCOTT: SUPPORTERS SAY THE MONEYIS CRITICAL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,BUT AS NORTH SHORE REPORTERHEATH ALLEN TELLS US, OPPONENTSSAY NOT ALL OF THOSE TAX DOLLARSARE EVEN NEEDED ANY MORE>> THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.I THINK WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENTJOB IN THIS PARISH OF USING TAXDOLLARS WISELY.>> WE'RE NOT AGAINST THEPROGRAMS.WHAT WE'RE AGAINST IS THE HIGHTAXES IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH.IT IS THE HIGHEST TAXED PARISHIN THE STATE.REPORTER: HOTLY CONTESTED FROMBOTH SIDES, CRITICAL TAXPROPOSALS GO TO THE VOTERS THISCOMING SATURDAY, AND YOU CANEXPECT THE RHETORIC TO RATCHETUP AS THE VOTE GETS CLOSERALL OUR RENEWALS.IN ST. TAMMANY, A QUARTER CENTRENEWAL FOR THE ST. TAMMANYPARISH JUSTICE CENTER.>> THE D.A. IS THERE, THESHERIFF IS THERE.THE CLERK OF COURT, THEASSESSOR, THE REGISTRAR OFVOTERS, ALL OF THOSE SERVICESARE IN THAT BUILDING AND IT ISGETTING OLDER.WE HAVE TO DO THE MAINTAINENCEAND THE OPERATIONS OF THATBUILDING.REPORTER: ANOTHER QUARTER CENTRENEWAL GOES TO THE ST. TAMMANYPARISH JAIL.SHERIFF ELECT RANDY SMITH CALLSTHE MONEY CRITICAL.>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANWE LOSE THAT FUNDING WHICHBRINGS IN AROUND $11.3 MILLION AYEAR, I WOULD BE FORCED TO MAKECUTS, CUTS AS IN EMPLOYEES, CUTPROBABLY HALF THE OPERATIONSTHAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING ON NOWAT THE JAIL.>> THEY ALWAYS THROW THE SCARETACTICS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CRIMINALS.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TERRORISTSRUNNING AROUND ST. TAMMANYPARISH IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS.REPORTER: ALSO ON THE BALLOT, A3 MILL PROPERTY TAX RENEWALACROSS FIVE PARISHES, TO FUNDTHE FLORIDA PARISHES JUVENILEDETENTION CENTER, SUPPORTED BYLAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE COURTSVIRTUALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.FACILITY OFFICIALS SAY THECENTER COULD FACE CLOSURE EARLYNEXT YEAR IF THE MILLAGE RENEWALDOESN'T PASS.MORE ON THAT COMING UP TONIGHT

North Shore tax elections spark heated debate

While many people don't even realize it, Saturday is election day with sparks already flying over three hotly contested tax renewal elections.